Author's note: First, thanks so much to everyone who wrote reviews. This is a pretty risky story, I know. Second, I'll answer a few small questions but not everything as I'm not giving away any surprises.
Will there be any man on man loving? If anyone is thinking brother and brother in a direct intimate relationship with each other, the answer is no. I'm certainly not against gay relationships but 1) I have no experience with such a thing so I couldn't write about a something like that unless I could give it the accuracy/respect it deserves and 2) their twins and i don't don't do incest relationships.
Will there be any intimate threesomes with the both twins and Carissa at the same time? (ahem) Yes, and that's all I'm saying at the moment.
What will Carissa's reaction be? Only time will tell of course (smiles.) -Anne
Chapter 8
The next evening, Pierce stared at himself in the mirror.
"You're not wearing that, are you?" Samuel passed behind him, a backpack in his hand.
"And you're not going to the meeting carrying reports in a backpack, are you?"
Samuel laughed. "You worry about your date, and I'll worry about mine. And you also need to make sure you do a blood exchange with her."
"You mean if I think she's my lifemate."
"Our lifemate. And she is. Also, she may use your name, but you need to act like me."
"We're lying to her."
Samuel let out a huff. "Will you stop? We've talked about this. What do you want to do? Tell her we both want her? I think she's having a hard enough time believing in the fact that we are Carpathian. Besides, you're still doubting she belongs to both of us. We might as well not give her any surprises until you at least believe it's true."
"This is completely insane." Pierce looked himself over in the mirror. He selected dark slacks with a jacket.
"Wear jeans."
"I'm taking her to a see a symphony."
Samuel shoved some reports in the bag and looked up at him in the mirror. "You're kidding."
"No, and if I'm going to go through with any of this, you'll back off."
"Fine. But I don't think she's the symphony type. Besides, I didn't tell her where we were going tonight."
"Look, just don't mess up this meeting with the CFO, okay?"
"How can I mess it up? They're already tanking."
Pierce winced. "Try to use that brilliant brain of yours to find out what's going on."
"Yeah, yeah, I hear you. Now get going."
Pierce drew a deep breath, took one last look at himself, and headed out the door. He took the elevator down to the garage level in the basement, the same area he and Samuel would occasionally use to sleep. Long ago they had created secret areas deep in the ground. But they also slept in hidden floor traps within their high rise residence. Mikhail had sent them rich Carpathian soil as a gift of thanks for all their hard work over the years in protecting and growing the wealth of their people. It was the twins most treasured possession, giving them a taste of the home they remembered.
Pierce made his way to his black Mercedes and got in. Despite the fact he didn't have much of a need for a car, he now came to the conclusion he enjoyed driving. He shook his head at the notion, realizing he was still getting used to a number of his emotions. The drive to Carissa's condo wasn't too far, and it amazed him how during all this time, she was living in the same city. After he pulled up in her driveway, his heart pounding, Pierce walked to the front door and knocked.
When Carissa answered the door, she smiled. "Hi! How is your brother?"
"Better," he answered in a casual voice. But there was nothing causal about his hidden reaction. She was even more beautiful in person than he'd even seen in his head. He had the urge to reach out and touch her face, as if to reassure himself she was real.
"So, we aren't flying tonight, I hope?"
Pierce smiled. "No."
"Okay, good. So where are we going?" She eyed what he was wearing and suddenly realized she was way too underdressed.
"Have you ever been to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra?"
"Oh," she breathed, "no, I haven't." Carissa hesitated. She had nothing to wear.
"May I come in for a moment?"
"Yes, of course. Pierce, I'm sorry but I don't know if I have anything suitable to wear to a formal concert."
As soon as he closed the door, he made a simple gesture, almost a wave of his hand. Carissa gasped when she felt a wisp of air and then found herself wearing the most beautiful dress. It was royal blue and the fabric was silky with the hem of the dress just above her knee. When she looked down, Carissa realized she had new shoes that matched as well.
"How can you do that?"
"We have many gifts. In time, you will learn to use them as well."
She nodded. "Like when you said I could fly like a bird. Although I still find that a little hard to believe."
Pierce realized he had no idea what Samuel had been discussing with her. He couldn't reach out to his twin as he may already be meeting with Logitech and didn't want to distract him. So he focused on her question and came up with his own response. "I feel like I'm the one who dreaming," he said in a soft voice.
She actually blushed. "But a good dream, I know."
Pierce tilted his head at her. "Aren't all dreams good?"
Carissa looked at him with a puzzled expression. "Last night I was the one who said I must be dreaming. You said it wasn't. but hoped I thought it was still a good dream."
Damn. Pierce suddenly realized this was going to be harder than he thought. But then, Samuel was right: life certainly wouldn't be any easier for her if he suddenly revealed she was being courted by twins.
Yep, that was a sure way to frighten her off. And here Pierce had been worried about Samuel alone messing things up? How could they do this?
"Are you okay?" Carissa asked.
"Yes, sorry. Shall we go?" He took her hand when suddenly a large Siberian husky appeared and began to bark at him.
"Cujo! Stop! It's just Pierce."
Realizing the dog didn't understand why he was different and yet exactly like Samuel whom he'd met, Pierce reached out and calmed the dog with his mind. Cujo immediately grew quiet and approached him cautiously, sniffing at his feet.
"He acted like a puppy around you the other night, and now it's like he's meeting you for the first time. How silly is that?"
"Indeed," replied Pierce who shifted uncomfortably. The dog finished with his examination and then obediently sat at his feet.
"That's more like it," said Carissa who gave Cujo a pat on the head. "Maybe he just needed to make sure it was you."
Pierce reached down took some time to stroke the dog's fur. "He's beautiful. He reminds me of the wolves in our homeland."
Carissa looked at him with sudden concern. "What about your brother? Is he going to return to the Carpathian Mountains?"
"I believe so."
"So…does that mean he'll be condemned to death?" she whispered.
Pierce sharply looked at her. "Death?"
"You said he thinks he's mentally unstable. That your prince might condemn him."
"Oh, right." He cursed under his breath with yet another continued conversation she had with Samuel. This was definitely going to be a rough night. "But I think we may have a solution."
"Really? What is it? Someone who can help?"
Pierce felt his chest grow tight. That someone was standing right in front of him. But he couldn't tell her just yet. She had too much to absorb as it was. "Yes, I think there's someone who can help. When the time comes, I'll go with him."
Carissa's heart seemed to sink at the thought of him going away. She felt so strongly about him and it still scared her. For the first time in her life, there was a man she was actually interested in. Somehow, she was going to have to eventually tell him that she didn't have very good experiences with men. Obviously he had to know something from the way she reacted the other night. She'd immediately jumped to the conclusion that he was trying to pay for her. But now he was turning out to be the first man she actually felt like she could trust. "I guess in a sense I'm still grateful that you called me at the travel agency for the private flight. I mean, I'm sorry about your brother, of course. But," she paused and looked at him shyly, "I'm not sorry I met you."
He couldn't resist, damn it. Pierce lifted her hand to his lips and took in her scent. He briefly kissed her skin, his body hardening in an instant, making him once more shift uncomfortably in his stance. There was no longer any doubt in his mind about her. "You are my lifemate," he said, clearly meaning it. "We are meant to be as one."
Carissa felt her body respond with heat. She had never actually wanted any man physically until she met Pierce. When she thought about him leaving again, Carissa couldn't help feel disappointed. She was now just getting to know him.
Pierce could sense her conflict with the fact that she didn't want him to leave for the Carpathian Mountings. But he also could tell she didn't trust many men. He had a feeling she was afraid of her heart being broken.
Well, didn't this just add to his growing feeling of guilt about lying to her that she was wanted by twin brothers. "Let's not talk about my upcoming trip right now," he said in a quiet voice. "I just want to spend time with you tonight."
She nodded and he gave Cujo one final pat. As they walked out the door, Pierce ensured a few safeguards were set around her condo. He escorted her to the car, and soon they were on their way. As they drove down the highway, Carissa looked out the window into the night sky. "I have to admit I'm surprised you decided on taking me to listen to an orchestra."
The car slowed down. "Why do you say that?"
"Well, I just didn't see you as the type who listens to classical music."
Pierce was beginning to understand even more now why his brother aggravated him. Their opposite personalities were going to be a constant challenge. "Do you not like classical music?" he asked.
"I like all types of music. Although, I've never actually been to see a live performance by an orchestra." Carissa looked at him a little nervously. He was so much more experienced than her in everything. She felt inadequate. "I'm not really the kind of woman you're probably used to being with."
"Stop," Pierce said in a firm voice. He reached out and held her hand. "Now that I see you in person, I cannot even describe what a gift you are."
She responded with a confused look. "Oh…you mean seeing me in person, since first talking on the phone?"
Damn it. Pierce was so distracted by being with her, he was beginning to make careless mistakes. It was of course the first time he met her in person, but she didn't know that. "Yes, of course. I still can't believe you are real."
Carissa sensed something was off, but shook away the feeling. Pierce seemed a little different tonight, but everyone had different moods. And he was still looking at her like she was the only woman in the world for him.
"Mr. Falkland, good to see you."
Samuel reached out and shook John Burk's hand. He'd just arrived at Logitech's office. It was as extravagant as he remembered with marble floors with a enormous reception area. He nodded at the CFO. "Thanks for staying late."
"Of course. Would you like anything? Coffee?"
Samuel hid his annoyance at the pleasantries. The senior team knew he was a powerful investor that they needed, and they were going to try to do anything they could to lighten his mood.
Too bad they didn't realize he didn't eat human food. But then, maybe he could use one of them for his needs later. Pierce would frown on feeding from one of the executives, but Samuel smiled to himself as his twin wasn't here.
"No thanks. Where are we meeting?"
"This way," John said as he led Samuel down a large hall. They turned a corner and then entered a magnificent conference room, boasting a table that was several feet long surrounded by large executive chairs.
Samuel was somewhat surprised to see the entire senior staff team present. Obviously they knew Pierce was unhappy with the numbers. As John gestured to the chair at the head of the table, Samuel shrugged off the backpack that he had been carrying on his left shoulder. He flung it on the table and it landed with a thud that echoed throughout the room. "So let's get this over with, shall we?"
John paled, as if recognizing Pierce wouldn't have acted in the same way. "Ah…Mr. Samuel Falkland?"
"Yeah?"
"Oh, we were expecting-"
"My twin, yeah, I know. He's busy at the moment so I'm here instead."
The team members looked at each other as John cleared his throat. "You don't usually take much of an interest in our type of business."
"Well, maybe I just visit when things are going wrong." He laughed to himself as he watched a few of them squirm. With the return of his emotion, this might be fun after all.
"I assure you," said the CFO looking at him with serious eyes, "we have things under control."
"Oh really? Your stock has plummeted, your sales were seriously off projection for the last few months, and a majority of the contracts you should have renewed are now lost to a competitor. Now, sit down," said Samuel in a gruff tone as he rolled up his sleeves. "We're going to get to the bottom of this."
"How long are we going to meet?" asked Tom who was their Operations Manager.
"As long as it takes." Samuel could hear them groan and grumble inside their minds. None of them would actually do it to his face, but how little they knew he could read every thought.
He pulled out a number of various reports from his bag and they began to go through the data. Every time the team gave him an answer to one of his questions, Samuel came up with several more.
The team's most intelligent technical members had trouble keeping up, most of them realizing the twin they thought could care less about business and only wanted to party, was actually brilliant with an IQ far above any of them.
But after three hours, Samuel had enough. He threw down a last report on the table in front of all of them. "These are figures we uncovered from a few months ago. You all keep saying this competitor just suddenly came out of nowhere and low balled the business away. But what I'm seeing in this report indicates there were major problems internally here that led to you easily losing the business. Now what the hell gives? It's like you completely lost track of what was going on; like you didn't see any of the red flags. It doesn't make sense from any of you!"
The executive team was silent as they had no excuses left to defend themselves.
"Look," said Samuel in what he hoped sounded like a more patient tone, "I don't know what's going on here, but if things don't improve, then as the major shareholder and head of the board, you know what the outcome can be to all your jobs. I expect to see a plan of action in two days time. I'll be back to assess what you've come up with. Understood?" They numbly nodded and Samuel tapped the table. "Good. Then we're done for now."
The team stood up and began to leave, a few of them lingering behind to talk to one another. Samuel shoved the reports back in the bag and frowned as he sensed John approach him.
"Thank you for meeting with us," he said in a small voice.
"You have nothing to thank me for yet," replied Samuel. "I'll see you in two days."
The CFO opened his mouth, obviously not used to being dismissed. But he had little choice as Samuel continued to ignore him while he gathered up some of the remaining hard copies of data. John turned and quickly left the room.
"Mr. Falkland?"
"Yeah?" asked Samuel as he checked the outside pocket of his bag for a flash drive he'd used during the meeting.
"You really shouldn't be so hard on John."
Samuel stopped what he was doing and then slowly straightened while turning his head to look down at the young man who was now next to him. "And you are?"
The man hesitated. He obviously sensed a great deal of power in Samuel, perhaps realizing he had a lot of nerve to be so forward. But he seemed to gather up his courage. "Nick. I'm Nick Burk."
Samuel turned so he completely faced the man. He was dressed in a typical fashion designer suit, looking like a GQ model with a handsome face that had a shadow of a beard. His dark hair had waves, and seemed to fall perfectly into place.
"You're the leader of the software team, directly in charge of the team which manages the front-line programmers," said Samuel.
"Yes, I've only been here for about six months."
Samuel raised an eyebrow. "Oh really. Did you come to us from a certain competitor?"
Nick let out a light laugh. "Oh no, I assure you, I want nothing to do with that particular corporation. They have a bad reputation in our industry. Once you work for them, it's hard to get a job anywhere else as no one would want to hire you."
"And yet you think I am being too hard on your CFO. If we do not rise above such a competitor, this company may be no better."
"Forgive me, but don't you think it's a little odd how such a talented team didn't notice the red flags you were pointing out?"
"Didn't you hear my lecture?" asked Samuel, who was beginning to be slightly irritated.
"Look, I know I've only been here a short time. But, things just don't seem right to me."
"As in how?" asked Samuel, narrowing his eyes.
"I'm part of the executive team, but not allowed into a lot of meetings. My own programmers seem to keep certain information hidden. They say it has to do with some highly confidential patented software that they created. John has said that it's a product that will change the IT industry. He can only let so many people know about it for fear it could get stolen. He works longer hours than anyone I've ever known."
"If that's case, why didn't he bring it to my attention?"
"Because, I think he suspects someone inside the company has been spying and feeding information to the competitor."
Samuel looked up at a photo of the executive team on the wall. If this was true, at least Samuel could get to the bottom of the situation. He'd have to look into a number of minds, but he might find something that could be useful if there really was someone who worked for the competitor.
"I'm worried," said Nick, "the numbers may get worse."
"If you and the team don't get this under control, yes."
"But it's more than that," protested Nick, "it's as if the mistakes you're seeing is because of this possible spy."
"What do you mean?"
Nick frowned. "It's hard to explain, but the team is completely distracted. Even if it was this new product, I can't see them letting go of everything else they've worked so hard for. It's like…there's a controlling force that's making them act strange."
Samuel grew concerned. This was an extremely odd conversation, but what if there was some external factor they had not considered, such as a vampire? But that would be ridiculous. What vampire would have interest in competing against their company? Vampires weren't typically known to even bother with such a thing. What they wanted, they simply took without question. Running a business would require too much patience on their part.
"Thanks for the info," said Samuel, "but I still expect to see your own action plan in a few days on what you can control. Do I make myself clear?"
Nick swallowed. "Of course, Mr. Falkland. Thank you."
Samuel watched as Nick walked out of the room. Sighing, he zipped up his bag and threw it over his shoulder. But then a mad rush of warmth hit his chest, forcing him to take a moment and grab hold of the table. What the…?
When he reached out to his twin, Samuel couldn't help but smile.
Pierce was ending his date with Carissa. He was in front of her door, saying good night. His twin wanted her so intensely, he was trying to hold himself back. Pierce of course prided himself on being a perfect gentleman. But his body had other ideas.
Kiss her, insisted Samuel. When Pierce hesitated, Samuel make a clucking sound.
Will you shut up?
Samuel laughed. Go on, take a chance. Kiss her.
This is just wrong. How can I do this when you want her just as much as I do?
Exactly. You're killing me, said Samuel as he was forced to loosen the collar of his shirt. His body was burning up, hardening to the point of pain.
But…
Pierce, turn off your damn brain and kiss her.
He saw Pierce in his mind look down at Carissa who was slightly nervous. But his twin gently reached down and tilted her chin up with his fingers. Ever so slowly, Pierce lowered his mouth to hers.
Samuel actually stumbled back and hit the wall. The pleasure that washed over him was like nothing he'd ever known. He could feel everything Pierce was feeling: the softness of her lips, her warm breath, the sweetness of her mouth. The kiss was more than electrifying, it was downright scary with how much feeling was running through Samuel during this moment. The logical side of his brain pointed out how wrong this all was and that he should be thinking this entire situation was obscene.
But Samuel instead took Graham's earlier advice and listened to his instinct. He closed his eyes, and let the erotic sensation take over his mind and body. Their lifemate's first kiss was a moment in time he and his twin were never going to forget.
